Door hinge and hold open



June 4, 1963 J. D. LESLIE DOOR HINGE AND HOLD OPEN Filed Dec. 19, 1960INVENTOR.

J5me: a9 1%561'6 BY ATTORNEY I I I I I I l l llll L I M United StatesPatent Delaware Filed Dec. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 76,603

5 Claims. (Cl. 16-142) This invention relates to a door hinge and holdopen and more particularly to a vehicle body door hinge and mul-ti-stagehold open.

The hinge and hold open of this invention is of relatively simple andeconomical construction and provides cooperating means on a pair ofrelatively movable hinge members for releasably holding a vehicle doorin a plurality of open positions. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention, a female hinge member or hinge box is provided with a pair ofspaced walls pivotally receiving the male hinge member therebetween,with each wall being provided with a cantilever-like extension flexiblyrelated thereto. Each extension is provided with a pair of spaced detentnotches and a lead-in cam ramp or surface. The male hinge member isprovided with oppositely extending detent shoulder means which arespaced apart a distance greater than the distance between theextensions. Upon opening movement of the door, the detent shoulder meanswill engage the cam ramps to move the extensions apart with respect toeach other as the detent shoulder means move relative to the extensionsand into engagement with the first pair of detent notches to provide afirst stage hold open. When the detent shoulder means are in engagementwith these notches, the extensions return to their normal or unflexedposition. Thereafter, upon further opening movement of the door, thedetent shoulder means are cammed out of the first notches and again flexthe extensions as they move relative thereto and into engagement withthe second pair of notches to provide a second stage hold open in thefully open position of the door. The detent shoulder means furthercomprise generally conical headed members so as to facilitate initialflexing movement of the extensions and to also facilitate camming of theshoulder means into and out of engagement with the spaced detentnotches.

Thus, the hinge and hold open of this invention is of relatively simpleconstruction and will have a long and useful life.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved doorhinge and hold open. Another object of this invention is to provide anew and improved door hinge and hold open for a pair of pivotallyconnected hinge members movable relative to each other, with the holdopen including fixed means on one of the hinge members and yieldablemeans on the other of the hinge members engageable with the fixed meansto provide the hold open function. A more specific object of thisinvention is to provide an improved door hinge and hold open for a pairof pivotally connected hinge members movable relative to each otherwherein one of the hinge members includes cantilever-like extensionsflexibly related thereto and located in the path of swinging movement of.the other hinge member, with the other hinge member including detentshoulder means adapted to engage the extensions and flex them withrespect to the one hinge member so that the detent shoulder means canmove relative to the extensions and into engagement with detent notchesprovided therein.

These and other objects of the invention will be readily apparent fromthe following specification and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partial sectional view of a vehicle body pillar and avehicle body door swingably mounted thereon by a hinge and hold openaccording to this invention; and

FIGURE 2 is a view taken generally along the plane indicated by line 22of FIGURE 1.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a vehicle bodysupport member or pillar 10 includes an outer wall 12 of multiplethickness metal which is integral with an end wall 14. Wall 12 includesa rabbeted portion 16 and a slot 18 in the rabbe-ted portion and in wall14 allows swinging movement of a generally gooseneck type male hingemember 20 relative thereto. The inner member of walls 12 and 14 providesthe inner wall 22 of pillar 10, with this wall including an embossment24 receiving the hinge member 20 in the closed position thereof as shownin FIGURE 1.

A vehicle body closure or door 26 includes an end wall 28 located injuxtaposed relationship to wall 14 in the closed position of the door,and an outer wall 30 provided with a lateral flange 32 received withinthe rabbeted portion 16 in the closed position of the door. The hingemember 20 includes :a mounting flange34 at one end thereof which isbolted at 36 to the wall 28 of door 26.

A female hinge member or hinge box 38 includes spaced upper and lowerwalls 40 interconnected by a web 42. Each wall is provided with alateral flange 4d bolted at 46 to the wall 22 in order to secure thehinge box 38 thereto. As can be seen in FIGURE 2, the hinge member 20 isreceived between the walls 40 of the hinge box 38 and is pivotallysecured thereto by .a hinge pin 48.

Each wall 40 is provided with an integralextension or member 50 whichnormally lies in the same plane as the wall 40 and is flexibly relatedthereto in cantileverlike fashion by providing notches 52 between theextensions 50 and the Walls 40. Each extension includes a lateral benttab 54, providing a positive stop for hinge member 20, and also includesan angular bent tab 56, the inner surface of which provides a lead incam ramp or surface 58. The extensions 50 are further provided withfirst detent notches 60 and second detent notches 62 to provide a holdopen function as will be described.

The upper and lower edges of the hinge member 20 are spaced from boththe Walls 40 and the extensions 50, as can be seen in FIGURE 2, witheach edge being provided with a generally conical headed detent memberor shoulder 64. Members 64 extend oppositely to each other and the peaksthereof are spaced apart a distance greater than the distance betweenthe extensions 50, as can be seen in FIGURE 2.

In the closed position of the door 26, the shoulders 64 are out ofengagement with the extensions 50. Upon initial opening movement of thedoor 26, the hinge member 20 moves relative to the hinge box 38 wherebythe shoulders 64 will engage the ramps 58 and start to move or cam theextensions 50 apart with respect to each other as the extensions flexrelative to Walls 40 about the neck portion between the notches 52.Thereafter, upon continued opening movement of the door 26, theshoulders 64 move along the inner surface of the extensions 50 and intoengagement with the notches 60 to provide the first-stage hold open.When the shoulders 64 are in engagement with the notches 60, theextensions 50 return to their normal or unflexed relationship. In thespecific embodiment shown, the engagement of the shoulder 64 with thenotches 60 will occur at approximately 37 of door opening movement.

Thereafter, upon continued opening movement of the door 26, theshoulders 64 will be cammed out of the notches 60 and will move alongthe inner surface of the extensions 50, as these extensions again flexrelative to the walls 40 about the neck portion between notches 52 untilthe shoulders engage the notches 62 as indicated in dot-dash lines inFIGURE 1 to provide a second-stage hold open in the fully open positionof the door. Again, the extensions 50 return to their normal or unflexedposition upon engagement of the shoulders 64 with the notches 62. In thespecific embodiment shown, this engagement will occur at approximately56 of door opening movement.

It is believed that movement of the shoulders 64 relative to theextensions 50 and the notches 64) and 62 upon closing movement of thedoor 26 will be apparent from the foregoing description. It should benoted that the conical shape of the shoulders 64 facilitates the initialflexing of the extensions 50 upon engagement of the shoulders 64 withthe ramps 58 and also facilitates disen gagement of these shoulders withthe notches 6t and 62 during both opening and closing movement of thedoor 26.

Thus, this invention provides a new and improved hinge and mnlti-stagehold open.

I claim:

1. A hinge and hold open, comprising, in combination, a pair ofpivotally connected hinge members mov able relative to each otherbetween open and closed positions, one of said hinge members including apair of spaced walls receiving the other hinge member therebetween, witheach wall being provided with a coplanar cantilever-like extensionlocated in the path of swinging movement of said other hinge member andhaving a detent notch therein, said other of said hinge membersincluding oppositely extending detent shoulder means spaced apart adistance greater than the distance between said extensions, saidshoulder means being engageable with said extensions upon swingingmovement of said other hinge member relative to one said hinge member tomove said extensions apart and out of coplanar relationship with theirrespective walls as said shoulder means move relative thereto and intoengagement with said detent notches to provide a hold open, saidextensions returning to coplanar relationship with their respectivewalls upon engagement of said detent shoulder means with said notches.

2. A hinge and hold open, comprising, in combination, a pair ofpivotally connected hinge members movable relative to each other betweenopen and closed posidone, one of said hinge members including a pair ofspaced walls receiving the other hinge member therebetween with eachwall being provided with a coplanar cantilever-like extension located inthe path of swinging movement of said other hinge member and having adetent notch therein, said other of said hinge members includingoppositely extending detent shoulder means spaced apart a distancegreater than the distance between said extensions, said shoulder meansbeing engageable with said extensions upon swinging movement of saidother hinge member relative to one said hinge member to move saidextensions apart and out of coplanar relationship with their respectivewalls as said shoulder means move relative thereto and into engagementwith said detent notches to provide a hold open, said extensionsreturning to coplanar relataions'hip with their respective walls uponengagement of said detent shoulder means with said notches, and cam rampmeans on said extensions facilitating engagement of said shoulder meanswith said extensions.

3. A hinge and hold open, comprising, in combination, a pair ofpivotally connected hinge members movable relative :to each otherbetween open and closed positions, one of said hinge members including apair of spaced walls receiving the other hinge member therebctween witheach wall being provided with a coplanar cantileverlike extensionlocated in the path of swinging movement of said other hinge member andhaving spaced detent notches therein, said other of said hinge membersincluding oppositely extending 'dctent shoulder means spaced apart adistance greater than the distance between said extensions, saidshoulder means being engageable with said extensions upon swingingmovement of said other hinge member relative to one said hinge member tomove said extensions apart and out of coplanar relationship with theirrespective walls as said shoulder means move relative thereto and intosuccessive engagement with said detent notches to provide a multi-stagehold open, said extensions returning to coplanar relationship with theirrespective walls upon successive engagement of said detent shouldermeans with said notches.

4. A hinge and held open, comprising, in combination, a hinge box, ahinge arm pivotally connected to said box for movement relative there-to'between open and closed positions, said hinge box including a pair ofspaced walls receiving said hinge arm therebetween, with each wall beingprovided with a coplanar cantilever-like extension flexibly relatedthereto and located in the path of swinging movement of said hinge arm,each said extension having a detent notch therein, said hinge armincluding oppositely extending detent shoulder means spaced apart adistance greater than the distance between said extensions, saidshoulder means being engageablewith said extensions upon swingingmovement of said hinge arm relative to said hinge box to move saidextensions apart and out of coplanar relationship with said walls assaid shoulder means move relative thereto and into engagement with saiddetent notches to provide a hold open, said extensions returning tocoplanar relationship with their respective walls upon engagement ofsaid detent shoulder means with said notches.

5. A hinge and hold open, comprising, in combination, a hinge box, ahinge arm pivotally connected to said box for movement relative theretobetween open and closed positions, said hinge box including a pair ofspaced walls receiving said hinge arm therebetween, with each wall beingprovided with a coplanar cantilever-like extension flexibly relatedthereto and located in the path of swinging movement of said hinge arm,each said extension having a detent notch therein, said hinge armincluding oppositely extending detent shoulder means spaced apart adistance greater than the distance between said extensions, saidshoulder means being engageable with said extensions upon swingingmovement of said hinge arm relative to said hinge box to move saidextensions apart and out of coplanar relationship with said walls assaid shoulder means move relative thereto and into engagement with saiddetent notches toprovide a hold open, said extensions returning tocoplanar relationship with their respective Walls upon engagement ofsaid detent shoulder means with said notches, and cam ramp means on saidextensions facilitating engagement of said shoulder means with saidextensions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,342,531 Dean Feb. 22, 1944 2,553,185 Gessler May 15, 1951 FOREIGNPATENTS 1,164,067 France May 5, 1958 754,776 Great Britain Aug. 15, 1956

1. A HINGE AND HOLD OPEN, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OFPIVOTALLY CONNECTED HINGE MEMBERS MOVABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER BETWEENOPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, ONE OF SAID HINGE MEMBERS INCLUDING A PAIR OFSPACED WALLS RECEIVING THE OTHER HINGE MEMBER THEREBETWEEN, WITH EACHWALL BEING PROVIDED WITH A COPLANAR CANTILEVER-LIKE EXTENSION LOCATED INTHE PATH OF SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAID OTHER HINGE MEMBER AND HAVING ADETENT NOTCH THEREIN, SAID OTHER OF SAID HINGE MEMBERS INCLUDINGOPPOSITELY EXTENDING DETENT SHOULDER MEANS SPACED APART A DISTANCEGREATER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID EXTENSIONS, SAID SHOULDER MEANSBEING ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID EXTENSIONS UPON SWINGING MOVEMENT OF SAIDOTHER HINGE MEMBER RELATIVE TO ONE SAID HINGE MEMBER TO MOVE SAIDEXTENSIONS APART AND OUT OF COPLANAR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR RESPECTIVEWALLS AS SAID SHOULDER MEANS MOVE RELATIVE THERETO AND INTO ENGAGEMENTWITH SAID DETENT NOTCHES TO PROVIDE A HOLD OPEN, SAID EXTENSIONSRETURNING TO COPLANAR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE WALLS UPONENGAGEMENT OF SAID DETENT SHOULDER MEANS WITH SAID NOTCHES.